I love Chicken Alfredo, and everyone around my table does, too. But sometimes, I don't even want to wait for the water to boil. With the recipe below, I don't have to. I can make the entire thing ahead of time and leave it in my freezer. The night before I place it in the fridge to thaw and it just needs a quick bake when I get home the next night.
It makes for a perfect comfort meal that hits the spot and doesn't require a ton of work - not even when you prep it for the freezer. I've made this dish with both sauce made from scratch and with jarred Alfredo sauce. And I have to say, if this dish is going to be headed towards the freezer when you make it, the jarred stuff will hold up so much better. Not to mention that when you leave that part to someone else, the entire thing comes together very quickly.
Chicken Alfredo Casserole
6
5 minutes
1 hour, 15 minutes
1 hour, 20 minutes
3 chicken breasts, skin-on, bone-in
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces penne pasta
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 16-ounce jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9" x 13" casserole dish.
Drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place chicken on a baking sheet and place in oven for 45 minutes, or until chicken is completely cooked through. When done, remove from oven and allow to cool.
While chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions, cutting two minutes off the cooking time. Drain and set aside.
Once chicken is cooled, remove skin and shred chicken by pulling it apart with your hands. Discard skin and bones.
Place chicken in a large bowl. Add cooked penne, Alfredo sauce, and both cheeses. Stir to mix all ingredients well.
Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil. If transferring to the freezer, it can be done at this point.
Place prepared casserole into the preheated oven. Allow to cook for about 30 until the casserole is hot and bubbling throughout.